1. What represents the plates? 2. What represents the mantle? 3. Where is the heat source? 4. Why are the blocks of wood floating? 5. Which part of the water has a greater density? Lesser density? 6. Explain convection current
Answer (1)
What represents the plates?In a convection model or Earth science, the plates are represented by the rigid blocks or pieces on the surface — in some experiments, they might be wooden blocks or pieces floating on the liquid surface. These represent the tectonic plates on Earth’s crust.2. What represents the mantle?The mantle is represented by the fluid or heated material beneath the plates, often shown as water or another liquid in experiments that simulate convection. The mantle is semi-solid rock that flows slowly and moves the plates.3. Where is the heat source?The heat source is usually at the bottom of the container or model, simulating Earth’s core or magma chamber heating the mantle from below.4. Why are the blocks of wood floating?The blocks of wood float because they are less dense than the liquid (water or another fluid) below. This shows how tectonic plates “float” on the more fluid mantle beneath them.5. Which part of the water has a greater density? Lesser density?The cooler water near the top is usually more dense because it’s cooler and sinks less.The warmer water near the heat source (bottom) is less dense because heating causes water to expand and become lighter, so it rises.6. Explain convection currentA convection current is the movement of fluid caused by differences in temperature and density. Warm fluid near the heat source rises because it is less dense, then cools down at the surface, becomes denser, and sinks again. This creates a circular flow pattern that moves heat and can cause movement of plates in the Earth’s mantle.
